Monday, 1 May 2017
MORE than 6,300 households and businesses with rooftop and free-standing solar power systems throughout the Northern Tablelands could soon receive much higher prices for the power they feed-in to the grid, following release of a new draft tariff by the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), Local State MP Adam Marshall said today
A long-time advocate for renewables, Mr Marshall said the benchmark feed-in tariff would more than double and help customers negotiate a better deal from energy retailers.
“The disparity between the current feed-in tariff and the retail energy price has been raised with me regularly over the last 12 months so I am glad that the Minister has requested IPART update the benchmark tariff for the energy locals feed into the grid,” Mr Marshall said.
“IPART’s draft determination of a fair value for solar more than doubles the previous tariff of 5.5-7.2 cents per kilowatt hour, proposing an increase to 11.6-14.6 c/kWh.
“The tariff is not subsidised by other energy users so it won’t increase power prices. It will help deliver lower energy bills for NSW’s 350,000 solar households.”
Feed-in tariffs are a payment for excess generation fed into the grid. The benchmark range is lower than the amount charged for electricity by retailers as it excludes distribution costs as well as retail services, metering and billing.
Mr Marshall said the fairer tariff for local solar households and businesses would encourage retailers to offer a competitive deal to their customers, but also encourage more people to consider installing a rooftop solar system on their home or business.
“In the Northern Tablelands, there are already 6,352 households and businesses generating power from solar systems and this number is continuing to grow,” Mr Marshall said.
“More consumers are realising the benefit of installing solar to help keep bills down.
“Consumers can avoid costly energy by consuming as much from solar as possible, and the feed-in tariff rewards the excess power that goes back into the grid.”
Mr Marshall said the financial benefit of solar went beyond feed-in tariffs.
“The government wants to expanding access to solar power to help with bills, particularly for vulnerable households through our Home Energy Action Program,” he said.
“The CSIRO says 35 per cent of generation by 2050 could come from rooftop solar. Solar and batteries in homes and businesses are critical to future supply.”
When shopping around customers should consider all aspects of a retailer’s offer, including charges, feed-in tariffs, discounts, late payment fees or early exit fees.
The final tariff determination will be issued in June following public consultation. View IPART’s draft report at www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/Home/Industries/Energy/Reviews/Electricity/Solar-feed-in-tariffs-201718
Mr Marshall said the fairer tariff for local solar households and businesses would encourage retailers to offer a competitive deal to their customers, but also encourage more people to consider installing a rooftop solar system on their home or business.
“In the Northern Tablelands, there are already 6,352 households and businesses generating power from solar systems and this number is continuing to grow,” Mr Marshall said.
“More consumers are realising the benefit of installing solar to help keep bills down.
“Consumers can avoid costly energy by consuming as much from solar as possible, and the feed-in tariff rewards the excess power that goes back into the grid.”
Mr Marshall said the financial benefit of solar went beyond feed-in tariffs.
“The government wants to expanding access to solar power to help with bills, particularly for vulnerable households through our Home Energy Action Program,” he said.
“The CSIRO says 35 per cent of generation by 2050 could come from rooftop solar. Solar and batteries in homes and businesses are critical to future supply.”
When shopping around customers should consider all aspects of a retailer’s offer, including charges, feed-in tariffs, discounts, late payment fees or early exit fees.
The final tariff determination will be issued in June following public consultation. View IPART’s draft report at www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/Home/Industries/Energy/Reviews/Electricity/Solar-feed-in-tariffs-201718